Spirit of Hamilton woman killed in shooting lives on through organ donation

She was a high-spirited young lady. She loved everyone. She was very carefree. She would do anything for you. She loved life.

Veronica Barry, right, holds a photograph of her and her daughter Danielle Nicole Schrenk, who died at age 21 from wounds she suffered when a gunman fired several shots into a parked car where she and several other people were sitting on February 4, 2013. Veronica's fiancee, Michael Auletta is next to her on the couch and her mom, Danielle's grandmother, Debbie Barry is at left. The family donated her organs and her heart saved a 53 year old woman.
Michael Mancuso/The Times of Trenton
To purchase this and other photos, visit http://TimesofTrenton.zenfolio.comMichael Mancuso/The Times of Trenton

Danielle Schrenk fell in with the wrong crowd and things ended badly. A single bullet in the back fired by an alleged drug dealer took her life earlier this month.

But the 21-year-old’s spirit lives on through organ donation.

“They took all her organs except for her eyes. Her heart was used to save the life of a 53-year-old woman,” said Debbie Barry, the young woman’s grandmother.

Though she grieves the loss of her granddaughter, Barry is a supporter of organ donation. A bright green bracelet with the words “Donate Life” on it dangles from her wrist. She wears it to honor the memory of Schrenk and the gift that she passed on to others.

Schrenk was in a car with several males in Ewing on Feb. 3 when the shooting happened. Police allege that the group pulled over to negotiate a deal for the purchase of marijuana, but tried to drive off without paying the drug dealer.

Police said the dealer, Keyon Powell, 21 of Trenton, pulled a gun out of his waistband and fired two shots. The first hit the ground. The second entered the fleeing vehicle and hit Schrenk in the back, causing a fatal injury.

Schrenk’s family said this week the woman was hanging out with the wrong people and they had an inkling things would not turn out well.

Barry warned her about it, but Schrenk brushed her off. “I knew something was going to happen to her. I knew it,” Barry said.

But the company that she kept had no bearing on the type of person she was, Barry said.

“She was a high-spirited young lady. She loved everyone,” said Barry. “She was very carefree. She would do anything for you. She loved life.”

LOVE FOR OTHERS

That love for others was expressed in Schrenk’s decision to be a volunteer organ donor, an option she chose when she filled out her application for a driver’s license.

Family photo of Danielle Nicole Schrenk, who died at age 21 from wounds she suffered when a gunman fired several shots into a parked car where she and several other people were sitting on February 4, 2013. The family donated her organs and her heart saved a 53 year old woman.Michael Mancuso/The Times of Trenton

Now, Barry and Schrenk’s mother, Veronica Barry, have joined the NJ Sharing Network, an organ procurement organization, and are helping to lead the effort to educate the public about the benefits of donation and transplantation.

Schrenk’s death is the second such loss for Debbie Barry, whose husband, Jack Barry Sr., was murdered in 1977, she said.

“He couldn’t donate organs because he was shot in the chest. He was shot four times, so there was no way they were harvesting anything from him.” Had she been asked to offer his organs for donation she’d have consented, Barry said.

“There’s a chance Debbie’s husband was not asked about organ donation back in the ’70s,” Lernard Freeman, public relations manager for the NJ Sharing Network, said.

“However, the process of approaching family has changed significantly since then. We make a concerted effort to work closely with all New Jersey hospitals to approach the family members of every potential organ donor in the state. Needless to say, it is a daunting but worthwhile process that results in the gift of life when donation occurs,” he said.

NEED FOR DONATED ORGANS

Joe Roth, president and CEO of the NJ Sharing Network, said there is a huge need for donated organs.

“The number of people in the United States who need a transplant outpaces the number of available donors. This gap continues to widen as one new name is added to the national transplant wait list every 11 minutes. We also see 18 people die each day while waiting for a transplant,” he said.

Following the shooting, Schrenk was rushed to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where she died Feb. 4 with her grandmother and her mother by her side.

A photo collage in memory of Danielle Nicole Schrenk, who died at age 21 from wounds she suffered when a gunman fired several shots into a parked car where she and several other people were sitting on February 4, 2013. The family donated her organs and her heart saved a 53 year old woman.Michael Mancuso/The Times of Trenton

Powell was later arrested and charged with her murder. During a hearing in Superior Court in Mercer County on Thursday morning, Judge Thomas Brown maintained Powell’s bail at $1 million. Both Debbie and Veronica Barry attended the hearing.

Schrenk, who graduated from Hamilton High School West in 2009, was a cheerleader during her time in school. She also loved the beach, dancing, shopping, and traveling.

“Danielle was a beautiful child and a lovely young lady,” said longtime family friend Ann Thornton, who has fond memories of the trips she took with Schrenk and Debbie to New York City and Disney World. “She will be greatly missed by a lot of people.”

Debbie Barry said her granddaughter’s selfless act made her want to become an organ donor, and she hopes others will, too. Debbie Barry said her family is grateful for a number of donations that have already been made in Schrenk’s name to help support the NJ Sharing Network.

Roth said the easiest way to register as an organ and tissue donor is by going online.

“Your organ donor designation will not appear on your driver’s license if you register online. However, your decision to donate will be recorded with the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission. You are also encouraged to share your decision to donate with your family so they know your wishes,” Roth said.